Flush valve arrangement and installation



March 25, 1952 J. l. BELLAMY 2,590,147

FLUSH VALVE ARRANGEMENT AND INSTALLATION Filed June 3, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet l R/ NN'IA awww.. Il lww.

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r---f---nv March 25, 1952 J. x. BELLAMY FLUSH VALVE ARRANGEMENT AND INSTALLATION 3 sheets-sheet 2 Filed June 3, 1946 IN VEN TOR.

March 25, 1952 J. l. BELLAMY 2,590,147

FLUSH VALVE ARRANGEMENT AND INSTALLATION Filed June 3, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 TOGGLE 54 sw/rcH INVEN TOR.

JOHN BELLAMY v. `-J4/ BY P 6 2 3E Patented Mar. 25, 1952 FLUSH VALVE ARRANGEMENT AND l INSTALLATION J ohn I. Bellamy, Brookfield, Ill., assignor to Sloan Valve Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June s, 1946, seriai N6. 674,136

" 3 Claims. (C1. 4-101) This invention relates in general to plumbing installations, but more particularly to the arrangement and installation of flush valves for urinal fixtures and the principal object ofthe invention is to provide a new and improved arrangement and method of installing urinal iiush valves and associated. electrical operating devices therefor.

A further Objectis to provide a new and im'- proved method of installing a flush valvev and associated operating device which canfbe easily and economically made and in which the water supply piping and the electrical conduits Amay be roughly placed in position and the connections made irrespective of slight variations of the nal positions of the ush valve and operating device.

Another object is to provide an improved installation arrangement for a plurality of flush valves and associated operating devices in which a common water supply pipe is provided for all of the flush valves of a group and an individual electrical conduit for the operating devices, and in which each conduit is so arranged that it is easily connected to its operating device regardless of the position of the same with respect to the associated flush valve.

A further object is to arrange the Water supply connection to a flush valve and the electrical conduit connection to the valve operating device in such a manner that there will be no strain upon the valve operating device to eiect its reliable operation.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved arrangement for automati# cally operating 4a plurality of flush valve'sii'i which the flush yvalves are arranged in different groups and means are provided for operating the flush valves sequentially in each group at recurring intervals. Y

Another object is to provide an arrangement for automatically operating a 'group of 'flush valves in sequence in which the ush valves are operated at greater frequencies during one time interval and at lesser frequencies during a different time interval, and means are provided for adjusting the time when the different intervals are to be effective. I

AOther objects, novel features, Iand advantages of the invention will be apparent `from the following description which taken with the accompanying drawings discloses a preferred embodiment and several modications of the invention.

In the drawings: y f

Fig. 1 shows a front elevation 'of a portion of a flush valve installation showing the electrical conduit and water supply pipe connections;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional side View of the in` stallation showing the piping between the walls oftheroom; Y

Fig. 3 shows atop view of the same installation;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section side view of the roughing-in arrangement of the water pipe and electrical conduit;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the roughing-in prior to installation of the piping;

- Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a modied form of the wiring arrangement using exible conduit; 5

Fig. '7 is a cross-section of another form of the wiring arrangement;

Fig. 8 is a view along the line tlf-8 of Fig. 7, whue Fig. 9 shows a diagrammatic arrangement of a typical installation showing a plurality of groups of urinal flush valves including the Water supply piping and electrical connections together with the automatic timing device for controlling the sequential operation of the flush valves. y

The use of automatic flushing systems in toilet rooms is highly desirable as usually the general public is hesitant about operating urinal ush valves manually, because the operating `handles are presumed to be insanitary, and in addition due to negligence the handles are not operated to flush the valve after the Xture has been used. Under such conditions, the urinalv fixture be-` comes fouled and in consequence the toilet room lbecomes obnoxious. In many localities it is mandatory that urinal flush valves -be provided-with means for automatically iiushing the same-:Previously automatic flushing-of urinals was provided by a water tank-located inthe toilet room which periodically operated a float to flush the urinal fixtures. This was. not entirely satisfac# tory because the intervals of flushing-operation were not controlled reliably vwith any degree-ef accuracy and operations were continuousat'the same rate day or night, resulting in wasta'ge-of the water supply. According to the present invention, applicant has overcome the foregoing disadvantages by providing an automatic flushing system and arrangement in which a battery of urinal ush valves are automatically operated for certain intervals throughout the daytime'for example, and for longer intervals during the nightltime. The urinal flush valves are operated in consecutive order so that too great a drain will not be placed upon the water supply piping beyond its capacity at any one time. In a large installation involving several floors, each containing a battery of urinals, the invention contemplates staggering the operation of the flush valve between the different floors.

The electrical operator for the ush valves may be of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,388,990, issued November 13, 1945, to R. M. Nelson and J. I. Bellamy, or may be that disclosed in application Serial No. 653,507, filed March 11, 1946, J. J. Filliung, Jr., now Patent 2,552,625, dated May 15, 1951.

In an installation of the foregoing type, the urinal flush valves are each provided with an electrical operating device such as a solenoid or motor operator which directly causes the operation of the flush valve. A problem is presented in such an installation in that the water supply piping to the flush valve is first roughly placed in position when the building is in the process of construction and shortly afterwards or at the same time the electrical conduit connection for the electrical device is placed in position. It is necessary in these roughing-in operations by the electrician and the plumber that the conduit and the water supply pipe be placed in the approximate position they are to occupy when the be readily accomplished with ease and exactitude, 5

and the finished installation present a neat and substantial appearance. In addition to the foregoing, itis necessary that the electrical operating device, which is rigidly mounted upon the flush valve, be relieved of all strains and stresses which may cause unreliable operation of the device, and the installation as disclosed obviates any such strain.

Referring now particularly to the drawings, Figs. l, 2 and 3, a preferred installation and arrangement is disclosed in which a flush valve F is located inV spaced relationship to the wall surface 5 of a toilet room, and is provided with an electrical operating device M supported directly upon the flush valve F by means of coupling nut 6. A shut-off stop and throttle valve V is coupled to the inlet side of the flush valve F by the coupling'nut 'I. AThe outlet side 8 of the flush valve F connects to Ythe top of a urinal fixture U which may be of any desirable type. Extending rearwardly from the electrical device M is a conduit coupling 9 passing through the wall surface 5. The inlet water supply -pipe I9 also passes through thewall 5 and is connected with the shut-off stop V. Behind the wall 5 the water supply pipe II! is connected to an elbow II and this in turn with the horizontally disposed water supply header or pipe I2, which extends in multiple to all of a series of ush valves which may be arranged in a battery in the same toilet room.

Connected with the conduit nipple 9, which extends Vto the electrical device M, is a relatively long electrical conduit or pipe I3 extending preferably upwardly within the wall space to a conduit or junction box I4 recessed inthe wall surface 5. This conduit box I4 is preferably arranged in a toilet room above the normal eye level of persons, so vthat it will be relatively inconspicuous. Extending from the conduit box I4, and connected thereto, is a second and horizontally arranged conduit I5 which extends in series to all similar conduit boxes arranged above their associated electrically operated flush valves F in the same toilet room. A suitable ush type wall plate I6 is provided as a cover for the conduit box I4. The conduit box I4 is supported in any suitable manner as by a section of strap metal I1 (Fig. 3) which is anchored at opposite ends in the usual manner to the vertical wooden studding I8 and I9, which studding is the usual 2 x 4s extending between the front wall 5 and the rear Wall 20.

In order to properly locate the conduit I3 in its approximate position, a cross-piece 2| made of lumber is first nailed between the studding I8 and I9, as shown in Fig. 5, and extends directly behind the lathe 22 and the plaster 23 of the wall 5. It will be noted that the inlet Water supply I is located to the right of and slightly above the position where the conduit I3 extends through the wall surface and in roughing in such an installation, it is presumed that the plumber rst locates his inlet pipe I9 in the correct position. Then the electrician measures over a certain distance to the left, as indicated at 25 (Fig. 5), and likewise a definite distance below the location of the Water inlet I0, as shown at 26, Where a hole 24 is then bored in the crosspiece 2 I. This hole 24 is larger in diameter than the conduit nipple 9. The electrician then takes a conduit section I3 and at its upper end applies a right angle bend 28, which is subsequently attached to the conduit box I4. At the lower end, the conduit I3 is given a right-angle bend 21, which is made at an angle of ninety degrees laterally from the bend 28. This bend 2l is pushed through the opening 24 in the cross-piece 2|. There is suficient latitude in the conduit I3 for this to be readily accomplished. A coupling 29 is then screwed very tightly on the bent end 21 of conduit I3, after which the nipple 9 is loosely threaded into nipple 29 and a cap 3D (Fig. 4) closes the end of the nipple. A similar cap 3| applied by the plumber closes off the inlet supply pipe I0. The purpose of these caps is to prevent plaster and foreign objects from entering the pipes before the finished installation is made.

The foregoing is the condition of the installation prior to the application of the plaster 23 and any other nishing operations necessary in the toilet rooms. When the urinal fixture U and the flush valve F and its electrical operator M are ready to be installed, the plumber removes the cap 3l from the Water supply pipe ID and installs the flush valve F and stop V rigidly in position, and connects the outlet 8 to the urinal lixture U by means of a slip joint connection. The electrical operator M is then coupled to the flush valve F by the coupling nut 6 so that it is rigidly supported thereon. The electrician removes the cap 30 from the nipple 9 and threads this end of the nipple into the connector arranged on the side of the casing of the electrical operator M. He then passes the necessary electric wiring through the conduits I3 and I5, and makes the required kconnections in the conduit box I4. The wires are next pulled out through the nipple 9 which is solidly screwed into the coupling 29 4and the electrical connections made to the electric operator M. Should there be any variations in the location of the conduit outlet 35 of the motor operator M, with respect to the end of nipple 9, this is readily compensated for by the electrician either pulling the nipple 9 inward or outward with respect to the wall surface 5 thereby `swinging the conduit I3 about an ,axis rotatable on its connecting nuts in the conduit box I4. If it is necessary to provide leeway either vertically or horizontally, there will be suflicient clearance in the opening 24 to provide for this variation in location. Due to the bent portions 21 and 28 on opposite ends of the conduit; pipe I3, sufcient flexibility is provided that such lateral motion of the nipple 9 m-ay be readily accomplished.

It will be noted that the conduit I3 is totally unsupported between its ends, being connected at one end to the conduit box I4 and hanging freely at the other end, but attached to the electrical operator M within the hole 24. This arrangement insures that no undue strain is placed upon the electrical operator M to cause its unreliableoperation which may occur should a rigid connection be made to the device in any place but at its coupling connection with the flush valve M. In order to provide a nished appearance to the installation, the flange members 32 and 33 are rst slipped over the respective conduits and water pipes and held in position as shown, and a metal sleeve 34 may also be slipped over the conduit nipple 9.

Referring to Fig. 1, the horizontally disposed conduit pipe I5 connects with a main junction box 35, towhich is also connected a vertically arranged conduit pipe 36 extending upwardly between different floors of the building. The horizontal water supply pipe l2 is connected with a water supply riser 31 extending between the respective floors of the building.

.The foregoing description of the installation of the electrically operated flush valves is presumed to have taken place in a newly constructed building involving the construction of new walls and the complete installation of the plumbing equipment. There are many instances in which the flush valves are already installed in existing buildings and the valves provided with manually operated handles. In adapting such plumbing equipment for automatic flushing, it is merely necessary to remove the usual flush valve operating handle and by means of the coupling 6 attach the electrically operated device M to the valve. In such old installations, it is not feasible to install rigid conduit behind the wall surface, but it is customary to use flexible conduit or BX conduit.

Such a construction is illustrated in Fig. 6, wherein the flexible conduit 60 containing a pair of wires is attached by means of a connector 6I to the coupling member 62. A nipple 63 passing through the wall surface 5 threads into the coupling 62 while the other end of the nipple 63 is attached by means of the usual nuts to the casing of the electrical operator M. To finish the installation, it is desirable to slip a nished piece of tubing 64 over the nipple E3' and close up the openings in the wall 5 around the nipple 63 by means of a flange 65. In such an installation the exible conduit 6U may be easily fed behind ther Wall surface 5 and connections made to a suitable conduit or junction box located some distance from the connection with the flush valve and where the control circuits are extended.

A modification of the arrangement disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 Iand 3 is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. In this modification, the conduit or junction box 10 is recessed in the wall surface 5 at a point directly behind the electric operator M. This of course will entail the provision of a larger sized opening in the wall than that shown in Fig. 1.

6v The horizontally arranged rigid conduit 1I is attached to one end of the conduit box 10 and passes in series through any other conduit boxes arranged in the same battery of urinal valves. Extending between the conduit box 10 and the electric operator M is a nipple 12 which is threaded for its entire length, so that any variations in the roughing-in distances between the electric operator M and the conduit box 10 can be compensated for by merely threading the clamping nuts 13 and 14 at; the correct position to the casing of the electric operator M and to the cover or wall plate 15. This cover. plate 'I5 is attached by screws in the usual manner to the conduit box 10 as shown.

It is apparent that in this roughing-in arrangement the relative position of the electric operator M with respect to the wall surface is readily compensated for by the threaded arrangement of the coupling 12. To compensate for variations in locations vertically or horizontally, the electrician punches an opening in the wall plate 15 at the exact point where the coupling 12 projects from the electric operator M. This may not be exactly in the center of the wall plate 15, but may be located eccentric from the center or slightly to one side as shown in Fig. 8. This onside location will not detract from the general appearance of the nished installation, since it is located behind the electric operator -M and hidden partially thereby.

A material advantage results in the modification shown in Fig. 7 in that the electrician will feed his wires into the conduit box 10 from the conduit 1I and also through the nipple 12 from the electric operator M and splice the wires together within the conduit box 10. This arrangement, it will be noted, differentiates from that shown in Fig. 2 where the electrical connections between the conduit I3 and the electrical operator M are made within the space provided at the end of the electrical operator M. l

Referring now particularly to Fig. 9, this discloses a typical arrangement of an automatic flushing system comprising, for example, a plurality of lloors, A, B and C, and a basement D. The urinals are usually arranged in batteries of any number with the iiush valves of each connected in parallel with the header I2 to the water supply riser 31. It will .be noted that this riser 31 is progressively reduced in size between the different iloors 4las with the arrangement disclosed all of the `flush valves are not operated at any one particular time but in sequence on each floor. This results in a substantial saving in the cost of piping since larger size piping is not required.

In order to effect the sequential operation of the urinal ush valves, a timing device T is provided preferably located in the basement D in the building engineers room, for example. This timing devi-ce T is suitably arranged in a box, and is connected with a source of alternating current over the current supply leads 40 and 4I. A synchronous driving motor 42 is connected across the current source and operates continuously. By means of suitable gearing, a day-night clock dial 43 is rotated in the direction indicated once in 24 hours, and is provided with a pair of adjustable arms 45 and 46, which are adapted to .be adjustable on the clock dial 43 to any hour position. The adjustable arm 45 is adapted to actuate at any selected time, the toggle switch 41 in one direction while the arm 46 operates the toggle switch 41 in the other direction at any other selected time. 'Suitably geared to the shaft 44 is a cam 48 rotating at 1 R. P. H., which is adapted to close the hour contacts 49, and a second cam 5! rotating at 1/5 R. P. M. Within the path of rotation of the notch in cam 50 is a series of individual contact sets 5|, 52, etc., each of which has a lead extending rom the timer T outward within the con duit 36 and vertically through all the floors A, B and C. The common return wire 40 likewise extends through the conduit 36.

In the operation of the timer T the first contact set 5l is closed by the rotation of the cam 50 to energize the associated wire 53 over a circuit extending from the feed line 4l, normally closed contacts of the toggle switch 41, Wire 54, contacts 5l, wire 53, through each of the first ones of the electric operators M located in each battery on each of the floors, A, B and C. From there the circuit extends over the common lead 40 back to the line circuit. The iirst flush valve F in each battery is therefore energized to Hush its associated urinal. When the cam 50 engages contact 52, the lead 55 is energized and the second of the electric operators M on each floor is energized. From this it is seen that the cam 50 energizes the electric operators on each floor in sequence. Since not more than one iiush valve is operated on a iioor at lany time, the capacity of the Yheader `I2 is not exceeded at any one time, resulting in a material saving in the size of the piping normally required.

Since the cam 50 is arranged to rotate at 1/5 R. P. M., the urinals are flushed once in every five minutes. tinued during the period when less frequent use is made of the urinals, for example during the night-time period. To provide for this, the arm 45 of the timer T is set at six oclock in the evening so it will snap the toggle switch 41 over and close its normally open contacts, thereby completing the energizing circuit from the line 4l through the now closed contacts of toggle switch 41, the contacts 49 of the one-hour cam 48 and through the various contacts operated in sequence by the cam 50. Each time the one-hour cam 43 engages its notch with the contact 49, the foregoing circuits are completed. The notch in the cam 48 is of suilicient length so that the cam 50 completes one full revolution before cam 48 again opens the contacts 49.

As only a typical installation has been described, it will be quite obvious that various arrangements and modiiications of the same can readily be made, for example, several batteries or groups of urinals may be disposed on the same .floor at various locations, depending on thesize of the installation, and more than the number shown may constitute one battery. In such a case more than one urinal will be flushed atvone time in that same battery. p

While a preferred embodiment and several modifications have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that many changes It is desirable that this rate be discon may be made in the general construction and arrangement of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and it is therefore desired that the invention be not limited to the exact disclosure, but only to the extent of the appended claims:

What is claimed is:

1. In a plumbing system having a yplurality of groups of plumbing xtures, each of said groups including a plurality of said plumbing iixtures, a common water supply for the xtures of each group, a flush valve for each xture and an electrically operable actuator for eachl flush valve; an electrical control system for energizing said electrically operable actuators including main circuit means common to all of said electrically operable actuators and electrically connecting together one side of each thereof, individual circuit means for each electrically operable actuator and connected to the other side of each thereof respectively, and plural branch circuit means each connecting a plurality of different individual circuit means associated respectively with predetermined electrically operable actuators of iiush valves, selected one each from several of said fixture groups, and timing switch mechanism for consecutively energizing the branch circuit means to thereby simultaneously actuate the flush valves of selected fixtures only at predetermined timed intervals.

2. The plumbing system described in claim 1 wherein said timing switch mechanism includes means for energizing said branch circuit means consecutively for said time intervals during one portion of a time cycle and for different time intervals during another portion of the ltime cycle.

3. The plumbing system described in claim 1 wherein said timing switch mechanism includes means for energizing said branch circuit means consecutively for said time intervals during one portion of a time cycle and for diierent time intervals during another portion of the time cycle, and means in said timing switch mechanism for adjusting the time intervals in any desired time cycle.

JOHN I. BELLAMY.

REFERENCES CTED y The following reerences are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,532,905 Lawler Apr. 7, 1925 1,665,060 Hitchcock Apr. 3, 1928 1,682,166 Crane et al Aug. 28, 1928 1,861,501 Lowther June 7, 1932 1,978,737 Bower et al Oct. 30, 1934 1,985,314 Coleman Dec. 25, 1934 2,185,394 Arbogast Jan. 2, 1940 2,373,697 Littleiield Apr. 17, 1945 2,388,990 Nelson et al Nov. 13, 1945 2,395,150 Sloan et al Feb. 19, 1946 2,412,452 Green Dec. 10, 1946 

